LOS ANGELES: Former women's tennis greats Chris Evert and Lindsay Davenport will guest star in an episode of popular US television drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" in January, the CBS network said Friday.

Evert and Davenport, as well as former men's player and current broadcaster Justin Gimelstob, will appear as themselves on the CBS show in an episode depicting an investigation into the death of a professional female tennis player.

Evert won 18 Grand Slam singles titles in the 1970s and 80s. Davenport, like Evert a former world number one, was the 1996 Olympic gold medalist and her 55 career singles titles include three Grand Slam crowns. - AFP

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel bombed militant targets in Gaza for a fifth straight day on Sunday, launching aerial and naval attacks as its military prepared for a possible ground invasion, though Egypt saw "some indications" of a truce ahead.

An explosion and smoke are seen after Israeli air strikes in Gaza City November 17, 2012. Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas government buildings in Gaza on Saturday, including the prime minister's office, after Israel's cabinet authorised the mobilisation of up to 75,000 reservists, preparing for a possible ground invasion. REUTERS/Yasser Gdeeh

Forty-seven Palestinians, about half of them civilians, including 12 children, have been killed in Israel's raids, Palestinian officials said. More than 500 rockets fired from Gaza have hit Israel, killing three people and injuring dozens.

Israel unleashed its massive air campaign on Wednesday, killing a leading militant of the Hamas Islamist group that controls Gaza and rejects Israel's existence, with the declared goal of deterring gunmen in the coastal enclave from launching rockets that have plagued its southern communities for years.

The Jewish state has since launched more than 950 air strikes on the coastal Palestinian territory, targeting weaponry and flattening militant homes and headquarters.

The raids continued past midnight on Sunday, with warships bombarding targets from the sea. And an air raid targeted a building in Gaza City housing the offices of local Arab media, wounding three journalists from al Quds television, a station Israel sees as pro-Hamas, witnesses said.

Two other predawn attacks on houses in the Jebalya refugee camp killed one child and wounded 12 other people, medical officials said.

These attacks followed a defiant statement by Hamas military spokesman Abu Ubaida, who told a televised news conference.

"This round of confrontation will not be the last against the Zionist enemy and it is only the beginning."

The masked gunman dressed in military fatigues insisted that despite Israel's blows Hamas "is still strong enough to destroy the enemy."

An Israeli attack on Saturday destroyed the house of a Hamas commander near the Egyptian border.

Casualties there were averted however, because Israel had fired non-exploding missiles at the building beforehand from a drone, which the militant's family understood as a warning to flee, and thus their lives were spared, witnesses said.

Israeli aircraft also bombed Hamas government buildings in Gaza on Saturday, including the offices of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and a police headquarters.

Among those killed in air strikes on Gaza on Saturday were at least four suspected militants riding motorcycles, and several civilians including a 30-year-old woman.

ISRAELI SCHOOLS SHUT

Israel said it would keep schools in its southern region shut on Sunday as a precaution to avoid casualties from rocket strikes reaching as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the past few days.

Israel's "Iron Dome" missile interceptor system destroyed in mid-air a rocket fired by Gaza militants at Tel Aviv on Saturday, where volleyball games on the beach front came to an abrupt halt as air-raid sirens sounded.

Hamas' armed wing claimed responsibility for the attack on Tel Aviv, the third against the city since Wednesday. It said it had fired an Iranian-designed Fajr-5 at the coastal metropolis, some 70 km (43 miles) north of Gaza.

In the Israeli Mediterranean port of Ashdod, a rocket ripped into several balconies. Police said five people were hurt.

Israel's operation has drawn Western support for what U.S. and European leaders have called Israel's right to self-defence, but there was also a growing number of calls from world leaders to seek an end to the violence.

British Prime Minister David Cameron "expressed concern over the risk of the conflict escalating further and the danger of further civilian casualties on both sides," in a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a spokesperson for Cameron said.

The United Kingdom was "putting pressure on both sides to de-escalate," the spokesman said, adding that Cameron had urged Netanyahu "to do everything possible to bring the conflict to an end."

Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama, said the United States would like to see the conflict resolved through "de-escalation" and diplomacy, but also believes Israel has a right to self-defence.

Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi said in Cairo as his security deputies sought to broker a truce with Hamas leaders, that "there are some indications that there is a possibility of a ceasefire soon, but we do not yet have firm guarantees."

Egypt has mediated previous ceasefire deals between Israel and Hamas, the latest of which unravelled with recent violence.

A Palestinian official told Reuters the truce discussions would continue in Cairo on Sunday, saying "there is hope," but it was too early to say whether the efforts would succeed.

In Jerusalem, an Israeli official declined to comment on the negotiations. Military commanders said Israel was prepared to fight on to achieve a goal of halting rocket fire from Gaza, which has plagued Israeli towns since late 2000, when failed peace talks led to the outbreak of a Palestinian uprising.

Diplomats at the United Nations said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit Israel and Egypt in the coming week to push for an end to the fighting.

POSSIBLE GROUND OFFENSIVE

Israel, though, with tanks and artillery positioned along the frontier, signalled it was still weighing a possible ground offensive into Gaza.

Israeli cabinet ministers decided on Friday to more than double the current reserve troop quota set for the Gaza offensive to 75,000 and around 16,000 reservists have already been called up.

Asked by reporters whether a ground operation was possible, Major-General Tal Russo, commander of the Israeli forces on the Gaza frontier, said: "Definitely."

"We have a plan. ... It will take time. We need to have patience. It won't be a day or two," he added.

Another senior commander briefing reporters on condition of anonymity said Israel had scored "good achievements" in striking at nearly 1,000 targets, with the aim of ridding Hamas of firepower imported from Libya, Sudan and Iran.

A possible move into the densely populated Gaza Strip and the risk of major casualties it brings would be a significant gamble for Netanyahu, favourite to win a January national election.

Hamas fighters are no match for the Israeli military. The last Gaza war, involving a three-week Israeli air blitz and ground invasion over the New Year's period of 2008-09, killed over 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Thirteen Israelis died in the conflict.

But the Gaza conflagration has stirred the pot of a Middle East already boiling from two years of Arab revolution and a civil war in Syria that threatens to spread beyond its borders.

One major change has been the election of an Islamist government in Cairo that is allied with Hamas, potentially narrowing Israel's manoeuvring room in confronting the Palestinian group. Israel and Egypt made peace in 1979.

KINSHASA/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. attack helicopters hit rebel positions in eastern Congo on Saturday after insurgents equipped with sophisticated night-vision equipment and mortars gained ground in heavy clashes with government troops and took control of a town, the U.N. said.

The clashes to the south of the town Kibumba meant the rebels have advanced to within 30 km (18 miles) of Goma, the closest they have been to North Kivu's provincial capital since a rebellion exploded in the eastern provinces eight months ago.

North Kivu Governor Julien Paluku said the army retreated to the southern outskirts of the town after M23 rebels - a group of soldiers who mutinied in April - advanced with support from neighbouring Rwanda. A Congolese government statement said 4,000 Rwandans had crossed the border, although Kinshasa later reduced that estimate to 3,500.

Rwanda rejected the accusations, the latest in a string of charges by the Congolese government in Kinshasa. The Rwandan government called on Congo's army and the rebels to halt the fighting as shells were landing in its territory.

"Kibumba has fallen into the hands of the M23," a spokesman for the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations said in an email. "Latest reports indicate that the FARDC (Congo's army) and MONUSCO (U.N.) forces are attempting to hold off a possible M23 advance toward Goma at Kibati, some 20 km north of Goma."

"We are not in a position to confirm direct Rwandan involvement in the M23 attacks," the spokesman said. "However, we are very concerned by reports that the M23 attacking forces appear to be well-equipped and supplied."

"They have night vision equipment which is precisely what allowed them to launch their offensive at 4 a.m. this morning against the FARDC," he said. "They also have ... 120 mm mortars, which they did not have not so long ago."

The peacekeeping spokesman said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Congo's foreign minister, Raymond Tshibanda, to voice support for Kinshasa, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to urge him to "use his influence on the M23 to help calm the situation and restrain the M23 from continuing their attack."

SECURITY COUNCIL URGES M23 TO HALT ADVANCE

French Ambassador Gerard Araud called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council in New York. The council issued a unanimous statement that condemned the M23 attacks and demanded an end to "all outside support and supply of equipment to the M23."

The statement said the 15 council members "express their intention to apply additional targeted sanctions against the leadership of the M23 and those acting in violation of the sanctions regime and the arms embargo."

The council also called on M23 to halt "any further advances towards the city of Goma."

U.N. experts have said in reports they have evidence that Rwanda has supported the M23 rebels in mineral-rich eastern Congo. They have called on the Security Council to impose sanctions on Rwandan officials in response.

The council statement did not explicitly name Rwanda as a supplier of M23.

More than 5 million people are estimated to have died from violence, hunger and disease in wars in Congo since 1998, which would make it the deadliest conflict since World War Two.

The peacekeeping spokesman said the humanitarian impact of the fighting was devastating. He added that U.N. troops in Goma and at its airport were on high alert.

The United Nations has about 6,700 MONUSCO forces in North Kivu, with about 1,400 troops in Goma and the surrounding area.

"The Rwandan army came across the border behind our troops, that's why our troops withdrew," Paluku told Reuters by telephone.

"The (rebels) are just a few kilometres away, so of course Goma is under threat, we can't hide that," he said, adding that government troops were regrouping at Kilimanyoka, 12 km (7 miles) north of the city. Rebels said they had no immediate plans to attack Goma.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo said army units had come under heavy weapons fire since early on Saturday morning, forcing civilians to flee. U.N. attack helicopters were dispatched to strike rebel positions south of Kibumba.

"So far ten missions have been carried out by our attack helicopters," a U.N. statement said. The United Nations has a mandate to protect civilians and support government troops when they need it.

No casualty figures have been given by any force.

Rwanda's army has repeatedly sent soldiers into Congo during nearly two decades of conflict in Africa's Great Lakes region, but Kigali has strongly denied Congolese and U.N. accusations of support for the M23.

"These are absolutely false allegations. They are very tired, and very old. Whenever DRC (the Democratic Republic of Congo) is defeated on the battlefield, it's meant to be (Rwanda's army)," Rwandan army spokesman Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita told Reuters.

"Rwanda has called on (Congo's army) and M23 to stop this useless war ... Rwanda is being violated by constant bomb shells on our territory," he added.

More than three-quarters of a million people have fled their homes since the fighting began, and regional efforts to find a solution have so far failed.

RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has undergone successful back surgery at a hospital in the capital, Riyadh, to tighten a loose ligament, the royal court said in a statement carried by state media on Sunday.

The stability of Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter and a key U.S. ally, is of global concern. The kingdom holds more than a fifth of world crude reserves and is the birthplace of Islam.

"A surgery was performed on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, at the National Guard's King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh on Saturday ... where a loose ligament in the upper back was tightened," the statement, carried on state television and the SPA news agency, said.

"With God's help, the surgery ended at 0315 on Sunday morning ... and thanks be to God it was successful," it added in Arabic.

The king, in his late 80s, underwent an operation to tighten ligaments around his third vertebra in October of last year and had two rounds of back surgery in the United States in 2010 after suffering a herniated disc, leading to a three-month recuperation period outside the kingdom.

His heir apparent and brother, Crown Prince Salman, normally acts as his deputy in his absence.

King Abdullah, who took power in 2005 after the death of King Fahd, named Salman heir apparent in June after the death of Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Prince Salman is 13 years younger than Abdullah.

Unlike in European monarchies, the line of succession does not move directly from father to eldest son, but has moved down a line of brothers born to the kingdom's founder, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, who died in 1953.

While it faced some protests from minority Shi'ite Muslims in its Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia avoided the kind of unrest that toppled leaders across the Arab world last year after it introduced generous social spending packages and issued a religious edict banning public demonstrations.

(Reporting by Ali Abdelatti in Cairo,; Writing by Sami Aboudi in Dubai; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Author of Set Yourself Free by independent financial adviser Yap Ming Hui talks to deputy news editor Thean Lee Cheng about his childhood years and how they shaped his views on financial planning as well as the burning need to write. This is his sixth title and he explains why he is dedicating it to the middle class.

StarBizWeek:What prompted you to be so prolific on the subject of financial planning?

Yap: I come from a middle-income family. My father was a shoe trader and my mother, a housewife. They were poor money managers. They did not save, invest, or have insurance. Growing up as a child, there was much financial uncertainty. When I gained entrance to a local university, my parents were not able to fund my university education.

Instead, the Lee Yan Lian Foundation funded me. Without that scholarship, I doubt I would have completed my studies. That made me very focused and I graduated with first class honours. It was growing up with such financial uncertainties that taught me the importance of money management. It is this factor which continues to drive me today and to write.

I want to provide a road map to financial freedom. Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, How to Buy and Sell a Business among others) is of the view of that if you do not become rich, you become poor. I look at things differently. If the middle-class can plan to be comfortable, if they can optimise their money, they can become financially free. So Set Yourself Free is dedicated to the middle-class.

If they are between 30 and 40 years old, their income will continue to increase. But there is also the likelihood that they may fall into the middle-class syndrome, which is to spend freely. In other words, they become a victim of consumerism with holidays and branded goods. It feels good to be able to able to spend, but can one afford it? I can assure you, (if they take this route) when they retire, they will not have financial freedom.

But if they are mindful of their expenditure and is equally mindful of the years when their income reaches a peak and be aware of the need to save, and invest their surplus, they will be able to achieve financial freedom. For the poor, it will be very challenging. But for the middle-class, this is possible.

At what point did you decide to focus and produce a book for the middle-class?

When I started my business 12 years ago, I dealt only with rich and wealthy people. There is a difference between being rich and wealthy. I did not service the middle-class.

A person is rich if he has high money-making ability but low money optimisation capability. Although the income is high, most of it are spent to maintain a luxurious lifestyle. That means the financial resources are not fully-optimised. This person will not be able to maintain this lifestyle if unexpected financial disaster strikes and the current source of income is lost.

A wealthy person has high money-making capability and high money-optimisation capability. The high income is balanced by a comfortable but not luxurious lifestyle.

In 2008, I met a single mother from Johor who asked me to help her. I told her I was unable to assist her. She earned RM150,000 a year but after telling her that, I felt bad. I used the same tools I used for my high-net worth clients and it was at that point I discovered that if she did not manage her money well, she would fall into the poor category when she retired.

I had a certain feeling which I never had when I was serving my high-net worth clients.

When I helped the high-net worth individuals, it was to help them to be more wealthy. But when I helped this single mother, and if she implemented my suggestions, it was to put her on a path to financial freedom. I felt motivated because I had made a difference in someone else's life.

What advice did you give her?

I advised her to go into investments that provided a hedge against inflation without taking too much risks. I also suggested that she save more so that she will be able to have a larger retirement nest egg. Since then, I have began to service the middle-income group.

The financial institutions have gone into very sophisticated products mini bonds, flexi-loans, investment-linked insurance or income plans. Ordinary people may have difficulties understanding and dissecting these new products. The novice hears only the good part, the risks and costs are not explained. It is situations like these that prompted me to write.

Robert Kiyosaki takes a different stand. He writes about "aiming rich", "quit your job and start a business", "take a lot of loans, buy properties and get the tenants to pay for them."

I take a different course. Instead of chasing after money you do not have, why not focus on the income that you have? Many people want to make money that they don't have. Friends will suggest buying unit trusts, insurance, commit to this and that with their Employees Provident Fund money, or to buy properties.

The middle-class want to make money they don't have but they are too carefree with the money that they have. This is doing a great disservice to the money that we work so hard to earn.

Some years ago, there was this insurance plan being offered where one pays for five to six years, and after which one need not pay anymore and instead the company will pay a certain sum over a period of time. But if you really examine the product, the return is very low.

One must exercise one's analytical skills. If inflation is 5% to 6%, those who bought into such plans will be losing money. If you invest in real estate investment trusts or an equity fund, there is the potential for growth.

The situation today is as follows:

Products are getting more sophisticated;

There is little time to analyse them, or we may have little knowledge how to analyse these products;

Sales personnel are persuasive and they capitalise on the relationship they have with you;

Inflation is high;

Spending temptation is high; and

There are many financial goals to meet and fulfil with aging parents to take care of, retirement and children's education to consider.

When the middle-class combine all these factors, the situation can be very daunting.

However, I don't advocate people to be so extreme as to torture themselves. But I also do not believe in spending like there is no tomorrow because no matter how much you have, you will not have enough if you take this route.

Money optimisation is different from making money. You can make money, or earn money, from doing what you do. Money optimisation is making your assets work for you, which can be saving, or deriving an income from your investments.

Money optimisation is different from investing.

I discovered the purpose of my life after my two-year part-time studies to be a chartered financial consultant. I started my business in 2000 and I figured that if this worked in the United States and Australia, it will also work here.

I believe every one of us deserves the ideal life but what is your definition of this ideal life, if money is not a factor.

At the end of the day, money is a means to an end. "The end" is to live the meaningful life. But when you are caught in a vicious consumerist cycle, you cannot help but think that money becomes "the end". People who are caught in this cycle feel trapped, and they don't realise that they have trapped themselves. If they can say "no" to some of these things (that they are so caught up with), they will be able to get out sooner from the grip of this vicious cycle.

SCOMI Engineering Bhd tripped into correction after peaking out temporarily at an eight-month high of 65.5 sen on Oct 12 and in the wake of an apparent profit-taking activity, shares came under pressure to retreat, pulling back to the crucial 100-day simple moving average (SMA) of 50 sen on Oct 14.

Thereafter, bargain hunters emerged from the sidelines to seek value buys and their actions led prices to rebound to a high of 53 sen during intra-day session yesterday.

Based on the daily chart, the recent overbought condition of this counter has been fully neutralised and given the latest developments, it appears the bulls are making an attempt to establish a new leg of uptrend.

A push above the 54 sen barrier is likely to set the stage for the bulls to challenge the stiff resistance of 65.5 sen, of which a decisive penetration would signal the continuation of the recovery process, targeting the 75-sen mark in the immediate term. The next upper hurdle is seen at the 85 sen, followed by the 95-sen level.

Apparently, the oscillator per cent K and the oscillator per cent D of the daily slow-stochastic momentum index were firming. It had triggered a buy at the oversold area in mid-week.

Also on the rise, the 14-day relative strength index improved steadily from the neutral zone to end at the mid-range.

Though the daily moving average convergence/divergence histogram remined in sell mode, it had indicated a pretty encouraging convergence pictogram. Technically, indicators are improving, implying prices may strengthen in the short-term. As for the downside, trailing stop-loss exit is set at the 100-day SMA of 50 sen. — By K.M. Lee

● The comments above do not represent a recommendation to buy or sell.

NEW YORK: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped its civil lawsuit against a former executive of GSC Capital Corp who was accused of negligence for helping mislead investors on a JPMorgan Chase & Co mortgage-bond deal.

The SEC's decision to drop the case against Edward Steffelin, a former managing director at GSC Capital Corp, was disclosed in a court filing Friday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

"Our duty in all cases is to achieve a just and appropriate outcome," SEC spokesman John Nester said. "Our decision here appropriately reflects information that came to light as the litigation progressed."

Steffelin was the sole individual charged when JPMorgan agreed to a $153.6 million civil settlement last year and one of the few people hit with a SEC lawsuit related to pre-recession mortgage investments gone bad.

Steffelin had been in charge of a team at GSC that selected the investment portfolio for a $1.1 billion collateralized debt obligation called Squared CDO 2007-1, which JPMorgan structured.

The SEC alleged that Steffelin knew the hedge fund Magnetar Capital LLC helped choose some of the assets being included in the CDO. Magnetar had a bet against the securities, the SEC said.

The SEC accused Steffelin of failing to ensure marketing materials for the deal disclosed the involvement of Magnetar. Steffelin denied wrongdoing.

Alex Lipman, a lawyer for Steffelin, said the SEC staff notified him in May that they would recommend to the SEC's commissioners to dismiss the case. The SEC decided to drop the case after exchanging evidence, Lipman said.

"Often times in that situation the people on other side just ignore it," he said. "But to their credit, they kept an open mind."

The dismissal of the lawsuit against Steffelin came as the SEC announced JPMorgan Chase had agreed to another settlement, a $296.9 million deal stemming from its role putting together mortgage investments.

No individuals were charged Friday, and few people have faced litigation in the SEC's financial crisis cases against the major banks.

The SEC also lost its first financial-crisis trial against an individual when a jury ruled in favor of former Citigroup Inc mid-tier executive Brian Stoker.

The case is U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission v. Steffelin, U.S. District court, Southern District of New York, No. 11-cv-04204. - Reuters

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying finally got the monkey off their backs when they beat Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir for the first time to qualify for the final in the China Open in Shanghai.

But it was a sad end for singles shuttler Chong Wei Feng and the doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who were sent packing in their semi-final ties.

The day certainly belonged to Peng Soon-Liu Ying, the Japan Open champions, who were in smashing form as they dominated third seeds Tontowi-Liliyana for a comfortable 21-19, 21-14 win. It was a massive result for Peng Soon-Liu Ying, currently enjoying their highest ever world ranking at No. 4, as they had never beaten their world No. 3 rivals in four previous meetings.

The victory provided a measure of revenge for Peng Soon-Liu Ying, who had lost to the Indonesians in the All England and Swiss Open earlier this year.

A jubilant Peng Soon said this was the perfect confidence booster for the tough match against top seeds Xu Chen-Ma Jin in today's final. The world No.1 pair had no problems dispatching unseeded South Koreans Yoo Yeon-seong-Jang Ye-na 21-19, 21-13.

"It feels great to have finally beaten Tontowi-Liliyana. It's a massive breakthrough," said Peng Soon.

"We're certainly feeling more confident now and will continue to strive for good results against the top players. It won't be easy against Xu Chen-Ma Jin but we will try our best."

But while Peng Soon-Liu Ying were celebrating their second Super Series final appearance, Wei Feng failed to make the grade.

The 25-year-old, who had been stunning en route to the last four, was thrashed 6-21, 7-21 by top seed Chen Long.

The world No. 3 will meet compatriot Wang Zhengming, who was given a free ride into the final as second seed Chen Jin conceded a walkover.

PETALING JAYA: The stage was set for national No. 2 Low Wee Wern to write herself into squash folklore by sending Malaysia into the final of the Women's World Team championship in Nimes, France, but she fell short yesterday.

Malaysia and England were tied at 1-1 in the semi-finals, leaving Wee Wern with the task of landing the winning point.

But faced with the challenge of beating world No. 4 Alison Waters, the seventh ranked Wee Wern could not raise her game and succumbed 6-11, 11-7, 9-11, 5-11.

England, the top seeds, won 2-1 to set up a final clash with Egypt, who recorded an emphatic 3-0 win over defending champions Australia.

The 22-year-old Wee Wern, however, redeemed herself when she came back strongly. She set aside her earlier disappointment and was the first Malaysian on court for the third-fourth battle.

This time, Wee Wern was in her element and beat Australia's Donna Urquhart 13-11, 11-6, 11-7 to send Malaysia on their way to a fourth successive third place finish.

World No.1 Nicol David (pic), who has been superb all week, then came on to trounce old rival Rachael Grinham 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 to seal the win. Delia Arnold then easily defeated third string Aussie Melody Francis 11-6, 11-6 in the dead rubber.

Still, it was a heartbreaking result for Malaysia as they also lost to England by the same scoreline in the semi-finals two years ago.

"I tried my best in the semi-finals but it simply wasn't enough. Alison was way too experienced in situations like these and that made the difference," said Wee Wern, who has now lost to Waters four times this year.

"I'm obviously disappointed as the team were banking on me to get us into the final. But it's a lesson I will learn from. So to win the first point against Australia was certainly a relief because it was tough to come in and play again.

"But I knew it's very important to get that point and I'm glad that I helped secure the third place finish," added Wee Wern.

National elite coach Peter Genever, while disappointed with the team's semi-final defeat, lauded the third-placing effort.

"It was pretty disappointing in the semi-finals but England are a very tough team and a lot more experienced than us," said Genever.

"But I think Wee Wern rebounded very well and she was at her best in her match against Donna. Overall though, while we're happy to retain third spot, it's also sad that we can't do better than the previous years.

"But we win some and we lose some and we'll go back with good lessons and work on breaking into the top two next time," he added.

PETALING JAYA: Kevin Yeap, swimming in the company of double Olympic champion Sun Yang, just missed out on a medal after coming in fourth in the 400m freestyle final at the Asian Swimming Championships in Dubai on Friday.

But there was still reason to smile for the 23-year-old Malaysian as he dipped under the World Cham­pionships qualifying time of 3:57.58 for the event.

Kevin clearly enjoyed the opportunity to swim with the Chinese world record holder and it inspired him to finish in 3:54.74, just 0.15s behind third placed Takumi Komatsu of Japan.

It was a new personal best for Kevin, who won the SEA Games gold medal in the discipline last year. More importantly, it assured him a place in the World Championships in Barcelona next July.

Kevin will definitely be primed for an assault on Daniel Bego's national record of 3:53.99 set in 2009 at the Laos SEA Games when he swims at the world meet.

Australia-based Sun Yang raced to an easy victory with a new championship record of 3:42.49 while team-mate Hao Yun clocked 3:54.34 for the silver.

Kevin had the sixth fastest time of 4:02.47 in the preliminaries to book a place in the final.

He just missed out on the world meet qualifying mark of 1:52.21 for the 200m freestyle after finishing fifth in 1:52.64 in the final, which was also won by Sun Yang.

Khoo Cai Lin made a rare appearance in the women's 400m individual medley and did well to reach the final, placing fifth with a personal best of 4:56.64.

Malaysia are only represented by three swimmers in Dubai. Yap See Tuan was the first to see action but missed out on making the final of the men's 50m breaststroke.

He was 13th fastest in the preliminaries with a time of 29.96.

The Asian meet is held every four years and the diving contest will take place next week.

LOS ANGELES: Bella and Edward's big-screen farewell lit up box offices with $30.4 million in late-night ticket sales for the finale of the blockbuster "Twilight" vampire series, production studio Summit Entertainment said on Friday.

The U.S. and Canadian box office receipts for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2" beat initial sales for each of the previous four films in the franchise, though the final installment got a boost from late Thursday night previews.

Last year's "Breaking Dawn, Part 1" kicked off with $30.3 million from shows just after midnight on the Friday that it debuted, according to figures from Hollywood.com. Summit, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, did not provide Friday-only numbers for "Breaking Dawn, Part 2."

The record for opening-night sales belongs to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," the finale in the boy-wizard series that grabbed $43.5 million when it debuted in July 2011.

Box office watchers say the "Twilight" finale has a shot at setting the franchise record for opening weekend sales when receipts through Sunday are tallied. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," released in November 2009, now ranks as the biggest opening in the series, with $142.8 million in sales over the first three days after its release in November 2009.

"Breaking Dawn - Part 2" stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in the conclusion of angst-ridden vampire and werewolf love triangle created by author Stephenie Meyer in a series of young adult books. In the final film, wedded vampires Bella and Edward must protect their daughter from an ancient vampire clan.

Opening weekend will get a lift from fans who rush out to see the movie because it is the last film in the popular series, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office division of Hollywood.com. He projects domestic three-day sales will reach $145 million to $150 million.

"Like 'Potter,' the final installment of this will benefit from the cachet of being the last one," he said.- Reuters

LOS ANGELES: "Life of Pi" is yet to hit movie theaters, but fans can already buy the film's trusty lifeboat that becomes home to a young Indian boy shipwrecked with a tiger.

U.S. online retailer Gilt Groupe said on Friday that the lifeboat, replicated from real rafts used between the 1920s and 1950s, is among props from the movie up for sale next week.

The lifeboat is priced at $40,000 in the sale starting on November 19. Proceeds will go towards the Orangutan Foundation International, in recognition of one of the other animals who initially survives with title character Pi in the film.

"Life of Pi" is based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, directed by Ang Lee and stars newcomer Suraj Sharma. It opens in U.S. movie theaters on November 21.

Other items up for sale include movie posters signed by Lee, a collection of vibrant saris, and other props valued between $140 and more than $6,000.- Reuters

"Malaysia welcomed initiatives taken by the Myanmar Government in restoring peace and order in the Rakhine territory," he told Malaysian media after attending the AMM.

He said Myanmar had informed the meeting on steps that had been taken by its government, in overcoming the clash between Muslim Rohingya and Buddhist there.

A total of 167 people were killed in the June and October clashes which also left more than 200 people injured, and more than 100,000 displaced.

On the South China Sea issue, Anifah said the meeting welcomed an indication that China was prepared to join negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC), a mechanism to implement the Declaration of Conduct (DOC) signed between Asean and China in 2002.

The COC is an important instrument in confidence-building, apart from diffusing tensions in territorial disputes claimed by China and four Asean countries, namely Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia. Taiwan is another claimant.

"It is a matter of timing on when China will join the COC negotiation," said Anifah.

On the Palestinian issue raised at the meeting, he said the latest development in Gaza had shown the importance of Palestine's initiative in getting the observer status at the United Nations.

Malaysia, he said, supported the initiative as it could enable Palestine to seek greater support from the international community in addressing its plight. - Bernama

Publisher and founding editor of Success magazine has worked with a diverse group of people from presidents to prisoners. He writes about importance of the decisions we make and how they have a compound effect on our lives and destiny. In a simple and easy-to-read book, he motivates readers to achieve real and sustainable results that will give meaning to their lives in the area of career and business and relationships.

The Arab World Unbound

Author: Vijay Mahajan

Publisher: Jossey-Bass

The author of Africa Uprising reveals the inter-connectedness and vibrancy of the largely untapped Arab markets. He provides an in-depth study of the Arab consumer market and the expanding middle-class there. With a rich blend of data and anecdotal observations, he writes about role of women in the market place and how multinational companies like Coca-Cola, Unilever and Procter & Gamble are tapping into opportunities, while at the same time, respecting the unique cultural and religious norms of the people.

Three Simple Steps

Author: Trevor Blake

Publisher: BenBella Books

Denying that he is a self-help guru, while admitting that he has many flaws, Trevor Blake considers how ordinary lives can become extraordinary. He concludes that one of the most fundamental issues is our mental state of mind. It is this which makes or breaks us. The next step is creating sustainable ideas that help transform lives and the third is using this all-encompassing transformation to help put one on the road to achievement.

Author of Set Yourself Free by independent financial adviser Yap Ming Hui talks to deputy news editor Thean Lee Cheng about his childhood years and how they shaped his views on financial planning as well as the burning need to write. This is his sixth title and he explains why he is dedicating it to the middle class.

StarBizWeek:What prompted you to be so prolific on the subject of financial planning?

Yap: I come from a middle-income family. My father was a shoe trader and my mother, a housewife. They were poor money managers. They did not save, invest, or have insurance. Growing up as a child, there was much financial uncertainty. When I gained entrance to a local university, my parents were not able to fund my university education.

Instead, the Lee Yan Lian Foundation funded me. Without that scholarship, I doubt I would have completed my studies. That made me very focused and I graduated with first class honours. It was growing up with such financial uncertainties that taught me the importance of money management. It is this factor which continues to drive me today and to write.

I want to provide a road map to financial freedom. Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, How to Buy and Sell a Business among others) is of the view of that if you do not become rich, you become poor. I look at things differently. If the middle-class can plan to be comfortable, if they can optimise their money, they can become financially free. So Set Yourself Free is dedicated to the middle-class.

If they are between 30 and 40 years old, their income will continue to increase. But there is also the likelihood that they may fall into the middle-class syndrome, which is to spend freely. In other words, they become a victim of consumerism with holidays and branded goods. It feels good to be able to able to spend, but can one afford it? I can assure you, (if they take this route) when they retire, they will not have financial freedom.

But if they are mindful of their expenditure and is equally mindful of the years when their income reaches a peak and be aware of the need to save, and invest their surplus, they will be able to achieve financial freedom. For the poor, it will be very challenging. But for the middle-class, this is possible.

At what point did you decide to focus and produce a book for the middle-class?

When I started my business 12 years ago, I dealt only with rich and wealthy people. There is a difference between being rich and wealthy. I did not service the middle-class.

A person is rich if he has high money-making ability but low money optimisation capability. Although the income is high, most of it are spent to maintain a luxurious lifestyle. That means the financial resources are not fully-optimised. This person will not be able to maintain this lifestyle if unexpected financial disaster strikes and the current source of income is lost.

A wealthy person has high money-making capability and high money-optimisation capability. The high income is balanced by a comfortable but not luxurious lifestyle.

In 2008, I met a single mother from Johor who asked me to help her. I told her I was unable to assist her. She earned RM150,000 a year but after telling her that, I felt bad. I used the same tools I used for my high-net worth clients and it was at that point I discovered that if she did not manage her money well, she would fall into the poor category when she retired.

I had a certain feeling which I never had when I was serving my high-net worth clients.

When I helped the high-net worth individuals, it was to help them to be more wealthy. But when I helped this single mother, and if she implemented my suggestions, it was to put her on a path to financial freedom. I felt motivated because I had made a difference in someone else's life.

What advice did you give her?

I advised her to go into investments that provided a hedge against inflation without taking too much risks. I also suggested that she save more so that she will be able to have a larger retirement nest egg. Since then, I have began to service the middle-income group.

The financial institutions have gone into very sophisticated products – mini bonds, flexi-loans, investment-linked insurance or income plans. Ordinary people may have difficulties understanding and dissecting these new products. The novice hears only the good part, the risks and costs are not explained. It is situations like these that prompted me to write.

Robert Kiyosaki takes a different stand. He writes about "aiming rich", "quit your job and start a business", "take a lot of loans, buy properties and get the tenants to pay for them."

I take a different course. Instead of chasing after money you do not have, why not focus on the income that you have? Many people want to make money that they don't have. Friends will suggest buying unit trusts, insurance, commit to this and that with their Employees Provident Fund money, or to buy properties.

The middle-class want to make money they don't have but they are too carefree with the money that they have. This is doing a great disservice to the money that we work so hard to earn.

Some years ago, there was this insurance plan being offered where one pays for five to six years, and after which one need not pay anymore and instead the company will pay a certain sum over a period of time. But if you really examine the product, the return is very low.

One must exercise one's analytical skills. If inflation is 5% to 6%, those who bought into such plans will be losing money. If you invest in real estate investment trusts or an equity fund, there is the potential for growth.

The situation today is as follows:

·Products are getting more sophisticated;

·There is little time to analyse them, or we may have little knowledge how to analyse these products;

·Sales personnel are persuasive and they capitalise on the relationship they have with you;

·Inflation is high;

·Spending temptation is high; and

·There are many financial goals to meet and fulfil with aging parents to take care of, retirement and children's education to consider.

When the middle-class combine all these factors, the situation can be very daunting.

However, I don't advocate people to be so extreme as to torture themselves. But I also do not believe in spending like there is no tomorrow because no matter how much you have, you will not have enough if you take this route.

Money optimisation is different from making money. You can make money, or earn money, from doing what you do. Money optimisation is making your assets work for you, which can be saving, or deriving an income from your investments.

Money optimisation is different from investing.

I discovered the purpose of my life after my two-year part-time studies to be a chartered financial consultant. I started my business in 2000 and I figured that if this worked in the United States and Australia, it will also work here.

I believe every one of us deserves the ideal life but what is your definition of this ideal life, if money is not a factor.

At the end of the day, money is a means to an end. "The end" is to live the meaningful life. But when you are caught in a vicious consumerist cycle, you cannot help but think that money becomes "the end". People who are caught in this cycle feel trapped, and they don't realise that they have trapped themselves. If they can say "no" to some of these things (that they are so caught up with), they will be able to get out sooner from the grip of this vicious cycle.

The Subang Jaya book exchange programme will be held at USJ 2 community hall, Jalan USJ 2/4S from 3pm to 5pm. Visitors are encouraged to bring along their books to donate and pick up any available book to take home. For details, call 012-550 1022 (Fay).

PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITION

The Tohoku - Through the Eyes of Japanese Photographers exhibition is held at Galeri Shah Alam, Laman Budaya, Persiaran Tasik until Nov 28 from 8.30am-5.30pm. The event organised by The Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur features 122 works by 10 artists taken between 1940s and 2010s on Tohoku's rich culture, heritage and beautiful nature. For details, visit www.jfkl.org.my

ANIMATION WORKSHOP

Local production house Astro Media is holding a free preview of their Holiday Animation Express Workshop for children and teens aged 10 to 13. The preview sessions are on Fridays (Nov 23) and Satur-days (today and Nov 24), from 2.30pm to 4pm at the Taman Sea studio, Petaling Jaya. Seats are limited to eight, so register now by contacting 03-7803 2054 and 03-7803 1336 from Tuesday to Saturdays, 9.30am-6pm. For details, visit www.astromediastudio.com

CHARITY PARTY

The InsightKIDs child development centre will be hosting the "Un-Halloween Party" to raise funds for the benefit of the Lighthouse Children Welfare Home. The party will be held today, from 2pm to 6pm at the Olympia Hall, Lower Ground, The Club @ Bukit Utama, 1 Club Drive, Bukit Utama, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. For details, call 03-2093 6178 (Layka Sethuram), or go to www.insight-kids.com.

ART EXHIBITION

An art exhibition interpreting the meaning of "rezeki" through the eyes of six Malaysian artists will be held at Galeri Chandan Publika, Publika Shopping Gallery starting now until Dec 10. The artist line-up is Aznan Omar, Elias Yamani Ismail, Nuriman Amri, Raduan Man and Yusri Sulaiman. For details, call 03-6201 5360 (Hasni/Harni).

XMAS CHARITY BAZAAR

Non-profit family support group Ibu, will be hosting its Christmas charity bazaar at the Whitebox and Art Row in Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur tomorrow from 10am onwards. Entry is free. Money raised from table sales and lucky draws will be divided between Ibu and its chosen charities. For details, call 03-6211 9183 or visit www.ibufamily.org

STAMP FAIR

The Philatelic Society of Malaysia is organising a stamp fair on Dec 1 and 2 at the PJ Community Library, Lot 389, Jalan Selangor, Seksyen 3, Petaling Jaya from 9.30am to 5.30pm. There will also be a colouring competition for children and daily lucky draws. Pos Malaysia will also be in attendance. Entry is free. For details, call Maniam (012-604 3563) or Wong (012-679 7931).

COMIC CONTEST

Ricoh is calling out to all Malaysians to participate in their 'Make A Change In 100 Minutes' contest. Submissions for the contest will close tomorrow. Visit www.facebook.com/ricohmalaysiaofficial for details on how to win cash and prizes worth more than RM10,000.

FURNITURE FAIR

The fifth Malaysian Furniture & Furnishings Fair will be held at Viva Home Shopping Mall, Jalan Loke Yew, Kuala Lumpur today and tomorrow from 10am to 10pm. For details, call 03-6140 1202 or email to enquiry@mf3.my

PUBLIC TALK

A talk on "Religious Harmony in Malaysia: A Precious Heritage to the World" will be held at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman today from 10am to noon. For details, call 03-7957 2818 or 016-223 3563 (Sia/Syed). Free admission.

SCRABBLE TIME

YMCA KL invites the public to join its weekly Scrabble sessions at the Lounge Hall, Level 1, every Saturday from 1pm to 7pm. For details, call 03-2274 1439 or email to programmes@ymcakl.com or visit www.ymcakl.com.

The number to call for any enquiries regarding 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) application in Puchong is 016-205 7077 and not as published yesterday. We apologise for the error.

WATERCOLOUR EXHIBITION

The 24th Asia Watercolour Painting Alliance Exhibition held at Wisma Kebudayaan SGM will run until Nov 25. The exhibition features 132 artworks from the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South-East Asian countries, the themes portrayed are manifold and demonstrate the special characteristics of watercolour art with various styles and skills. Opening hours are from 11am to 6pm and free admission.

STOP VIOLENCE

Soroptimist International is organising a Walk the Talk (WTT) throughout Malaysia to support the cause to stop violence against women. They will stop by Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur on Dec 2 at 7am. Participants who wish to support the cause will need to pay RM50. The funds raised will be channelled for gender violence workshops organised by the various Soroptimist clubs. For details, call 012-283 0959 (Doris) or 03-7886 2768

KOREAN CHARITY BAZAAR

The Korean Women's Association is organising a Korean charity bazaar on Nov 21 at the Taming Sari Ballroom, Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur. The bazaar will feature Korean handicrafts, accessories, garments, cosmetics, agricultural and local products. Tickets can be purchased at Korean supermarkets and restaurants. They are priced at RM10 (early bird) and RM15 (on the day of event). For details, call 016-306 4811 / 012-205 7300.

CHARITY GOLF

Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (Malga) and Yayasan Anak-anak Yatim Sultanah Haminah (YASH) is holding the Piala Raja Permaisuri Agong charity golf event at the Mines Resort and Golf Club tomorrow starting from 8am. The funds raised is to support YASH activities for the orphans and Malga's Golf for Girls Junior development programme. For details, call Malga office 03-2032 1577 or 016-653 7874.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLE

SOLS Tech and Hong Leong Foundation will be hosting a digital device recycling event at The Stage, Publika Square, Solaris Dutamas on Nov 22 starting 10am. Drop off unwanted digital devices such as desktops, cameras, mobile phones and others not older than 2004 for recycling. For details, visit www.solstech.org or call 03-6262 7247 or 016-238 2284.

A breast cancer prevention talk by Dr See Mee Hong from Tzu Chi International Medical Association will be held at Jing-Si Books & Cafe (L2-42), Tropicana City Mall today from 3pm to 4pm. For details, call 03-7710 0101.

CLASS REUNION

Bukit Bintang Boys' Secondary School Form 5 Class of '82 is having a reunion dinner at the Royal Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur on Dec 8. For details, call Hin Choy at 012-224 1191 (hinchoy@gmail.com)